LeAnn DeBord is currently a Probation/Parole Officer in Des Moines working with the Youthful Offender Program. LeAnn began her career with the 5th District in 2006 and has had the opportunity to work in many different areas including the Women’s and Men’s Facilities as both a Residential Officer and Probation/Parole Office, the Polk County Court House, a Probation Officer in the region and the specialized units for mental health and WOCMM.

LeAnn is active in her community and for the school year of 2015-2016 has been the president of her local school’s PTO as well as chair of the social media and advertising. This role has given her the opportunity to be in a position of leadership with running meetings where as much can be accomplished as possible. She’s also had the opportunity to consider different and new ways to raise funds for much needed projects, delegate work out to volunteers and help them organize the project they are working on as well as work in a professional role with the schools and community. This year the PTO has been about changing how things have always been done and giving it a new, upbeat reorganization to help gain more members. This gave LeAnn a chance to put her thinking outside the box skills into use and put her leadership skill to the test. By the end of the year the PTO has gained approximately 75 new members, they have rewritten the by-laws and if their projection for their current fundraiser hits they raised over $10,000 more dollars than the previous years.

LeAnn became a member of ICA in 2007 and has also been a co-chair for the elections committee since 2008. At most Spring Conferences LeAnn can be seen close to the elections box helping to get members to vote as well as helping with any other need that different committees and members may need. LeAnn recently had the opportunity to co-chair the 2014 Fall Conference ‘Support and Safety for All’ in Des Moines which gave her the opportunity to see a lot of the ins and outs of ICA that is not typically seen when you are just attending the conferences. LeAnn also helped the conference committee in the hospitality room when ICA had the co-conference with the jail school. LeAnn is great at thinking outside the box to not only find different ways to solve problems but also has taken an interest in finding different ways to keep herself and her co-workers spirits up with all the challenges that we face with our job. She is excited to have the opportunity to continue this with ICA members as well!

  1. I have decided to run for the office of At-Large because I love being a part of ICA and I want to do my share in helping it not only remain a strong organization but help find different ways to increase the effectiveness that ICA has within the State of Iowa for all corrections employees and the community. I believe there are different things that ICA could try to help recruit more members, make stronger connections between all the different districts, prisons, management and labor, show support to our communities as well as find different ways to raise money to ensure ICA is able to continue with all the great trainings it has had. I would like to explore different ideas to help ICA give back more to their members and what that may entail.
  2. In the next few years I see big changes for ICA. I believe we have to revamp how things have been done in the past to help spread the word of ICA and continue to be able to bring in top training for all the members. Some of the ideas that I have is more outreach activities within the different districts/prisons. I would like to see the members who are willing to become more activate in spreading the word of what ICA is and what it is about to other employees so they will try becoming members. I would like to see perhaps more local get together within a district/prison such as pot lucks, family nights, camping and tubing to name a few ideas. Part of the reason I love ICA so much is the connections that I’ve made with fellow workers from all over the State and the support that I get twice a year in meeting with them, sharing laughs and concerns but also having some fun and relaxing times to help me continue with the day to day hardships we all face with our jobs. I feel if we can find different ways to support correctional workers in the State of Iowa we are not only helping each other keep going with our work but also helping the State of Iowa remain one of the top States in correctional practices.
  3. ICA has sponsored a lot of different activates throughout the years. I like that we have two conferences a year that are throughout the State to allow the members to get together, have great trainings in a relaxing, fun atmosphere. A few things I would like to see ICA to start sponsoring are local fun nights with corrections workers/families. These can be a great activity for the employees but also the families getting to come out and enjoy the fun too! These can be low key but could also be a fundraising opportunity for ICA. I would also like to see ICA have a hardship fund that can be given out to different members who may be having a hard time such as fighting an illness or having an accident. Again, this doesn’t have to be a huge fund, but just a little something to help take care of each other in our times of need.
  4. The criminal justice system, as we all know, can be a world of its own at times. I think there are different things that ICA can continue to do or start doing to help simplify this this process. First, ICA does a great job with bringing in top trainings for employees to learn the news approaches and research to help implement the newest and most effective ideas for correctional practices. I feel that what ICA can start doing is finding different ways to support the corrections employees so we can all stay healthy and motivated as we continue to navigate the complex criminal justice system.